UNIT 21 Session 4 Use Week of: Jesus Rejected in Nazareth BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 4:14-30 MAIN POINT: Jesus said God s Word is about Him. KEY PASSAGE: John 14:6 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Who did Jesus say He is? Jesus said He is God s Son. LARGE GROUP WORSHIP (15 20 MINUTES) PAGE 124 SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 126 LARGE GROUP CLOSING (10+ MINUTES) PAGE 128 4 Leader BIBLE STUDY Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. After John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, Jesus was tempted in the desert. Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover. Then, He headed north to Galilee. He went through the region of Samaria, stopping at Jacob s well to talk to a Samaritan woman. Jesus began teaching in the synagogues. He went to the town of Nazareth. Nazareth was a small village in the hills 120 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 21 Session 4
between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea. This was where Jesus grew up. On the Sabbath day, Jesus went into the synagogue. He read aloud the words of the prophet Isaiah. (See Isa. 61:1-2.) Jesus sat down. Everyone s eyes were on Him as He explained, Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled. What was Jesus saying? Jesus was saying, It s Me. The words Jesus read were coming true. Some of the people might have remembered Jesus from His youth. They asked, Isn t this Joseph s son? Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-bysession help, visit http://www. ministrygrid.com/ web/thegospelproject. Jesus knew their thoughts; Jesus had performed miracles in Capernaum, and the people wanted Jesus to do miracles in His hometown too. Jesus reminded them of two Old Testament accounts. Many widows lived in Israel when the prophet Elijah was there, but God sent Elijah to help a widow in another country. And Elisha likely encountered Israelites who had leprosy, but he healed Naaman the Syrian. 4 Jesus wanted the people to understand that His miracles were an act of grace a gift. No one deserves God s grace, so God may show grace to whomever He pleases even Gentiles. The people were angry. They drove Jesus away, intending to kill Him, but Jesus escaped through the crowd. As you teach, explain that Jesus came to give sight to the blind and to set the captives free. He came preaching good news to all the people groups. Finally, the Messiah had come! Jesus was God s plan to save sinners. God Among Us 121
The BIBLE STORY Bible Storytelling Tips Use a podium: Stand at a podium to tell the story or invite volunteers to stand at the podium and act out the story as you tell it. Encourage a few preschoolers to smile and be happy about Jesus words, but most of the group should make faces to show anger. Visit the worship center: Visit the sanctuary or worship center if it is not in use. Take turns standing on the stage or at the pulpit. Hold a Bible and say the key passage before telling the Bible story. Jesus Rejected in Nazareth Luke 4:14-30 Jesus went to the town of Nazareth. Nazareth was special to Jesus. He grew up there as a young boy. Now Jesus was grown up. He traveled all around and taught people about God. On the Sabbath day, Jesus went to the synagogue. The synagogue was a special building where Jews met together to pray, worship, and learn about the Scriptures. The Sabbath was a special day when God s people would rest. On that day, all the Jews went to the synagogue to worship God. One of the ways people worshiped God was by listening to God s Word. At the synagogue, Jesus stood up to read God s Word. He opened a scroll. The scroll had words on it from the prophet Isaiah long ago. Jesus read the words: God s Spirit is on Me. He has chosen Me to tell good news to the poor. He has sent Me to tell the captives that they are free, to help the blind people see, to free people who have been treated badly, and to announce that God s favor is on us. Then Jesus rolled up the scroll. He gave the scroll to a man who worked in the synagogue, and then He sat down. The people in the synagogue stared at Jesus, waiting for Him to say something. Jesus said, These words came true today. Yes, Isaiah s words came true because Isaiah s words were about Jesus! God was with Jesus, and God had chosen Jesus to tell people good news! Many of the people in the synagogue were happy. Jesus was saying wonderful things! Jesus knew the people in Nazareth would not accept 122 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 21 Session 4
Him. No prophet is accepted in his hometown, He said. Jesus told the people about times when God used prophets to help people who were not Jews. When Jesus was done talking, the people were angry. They made Jesus leave Nazareth. They wanted to hurt Jesus, but Jesus walked away. Christ Connection: Long before Jesus was born, Isaiah the prophet talked about God s plan to send Jesus to earth. Jesus would bring good news and help people who were hurting. Jesus read Isaiah s words. Jesus said that He is the One God promised to send. God Among Us 123
Large Group WORSHIP SESSION TITLE: Jesus Rejected in Nazareth BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 4:14-30 MAIN POINT: Jesus said God s Word is about Him. KEY PASSAGE: John 14:6 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Who did Jesus say He is? Jesus said He is God s Son. Because He Loves Us song That s What Jesus Did song Bible Jesus Rejected in Nazareth video (optional) Bible Story Picture Poster Main Point Poster Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Bible Key Passage Poster paper John 14:6 song Welcome and worship with song Greet preschoolers with a smile. As preschoolers arrive, sing an action song such as Because He Loves Us to engage them and help them feel welcomed. Begin worship by leading preschoolers in That s What Jesus Did. Watch or tell the Bible story Ask preschoolers to share what they did this morning. SAY You came to church today! In today s Bible story, Jesus went to the synagogue. A synagogue is where Jewish people go to church. In the synagogue, Jesus read some of the words God told Isaiah to write long ago. Listen to find out what Jesus said about those words. Open your Bible to Luke 4:14-30. Show the video or tell the Bible story using the provided storytelling helps. Use the bolded version of the Bible story for young preschoolers. Practice the key passage and a Bible skill Roll a small piece of paper like a scroll and place it at John 14:6 in your Bible. Invite a few volunteers to come up one at a time and open your Bible to the key passage. Say the key passage as a group several times. Then mouth the 124 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 21 Session 4
key passage while preschoolers say it out loud. Continue until all children are saying the key passage out loud. SAY Our key passage says that Jesus is the truth. God s Word is truth, and God s Word is about Jesus. When Jesus came to earth, He made the words that God gave Isaiah come true. Sing the key passage song John 14:6 together. Learn the big picture question and answer SAY Who did Jesus say He is? Jesus said He is God s Son. Isaiah s words came true because Isaiah s words were about God s Son, Jesus. God was with Jesus, and God had chosen Jesus to tell people good news! Jesus was God s plan to save sinners. Respond through song and prayer SAY Long before Jesus was born, Isaiah the prophet talked about God s plan to send Jesus to earth. Jesus would bring good news and help people who are hurting. After He read Isaiah s words, Jesus said God s Word is about Him. Jesus is the One whom God promised to send. Sing That s What Jesus Did and We Can Love Jesus as preschoolers move with the music. Prepare for prayer by singing God s Love. You may also collect an offering. SAY God, thank You that You sent Your Son to earth to bring good news and to help people who are hurting. Thank You for giving us Your Word so we can know You and Your Son. Amen. Transition to small groups Big Picture Question Poster Main Point Poster That s What Jesus Did song We Can Love Jesus song God s Love song offering basket countdown video (optional) God Among Us 125
Small Group ACTIVITIES SESSION TITLE: Jesus Rejected in Nazareth BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 4:14-30 MAIN POINT: Jesus said God s Word is about Him. KEY PASSAGE: John 14:6 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Who did Jesus say He is? Jesus said He is God s Son. LOW PREP paper marker string LOW PREP blindfold (optional) Tip: Clear obstacles and assign an adult to stay nearby the blindfolded child for safety. Pass the scroll relay Write the main point on two sheets of paper. Roll up each like a scroll and secure with string. Form two single-file lines. Direct the first child in each line to pass the scroll over her head to the next person in line. Direct the second child in line to pass the scroll between his legs to the next person. Continue passing until the scroll makes it to the end of the line and the last child opens it. The first team to complete the relay wins. SAY Jesus stood up to read God s Word at the synagogue. He opened a scroll and read words Isaiah wrote long ago. Jesus said God s Word is about Him. Lead the blind Cover a preschooler s eyes with a blindfold. A preschooler who does not wish to wear a blindfold may close his eyes. Choose another preschooler to carefully lead him around the room. Play until each preschooler has a turn. SAY Jesus said God s word is about Him. Jesus came to bring good news and help people who were hurting. Jesus helped blind people see while He was on earth. The Bible tells us that when Jesus comes back, He will heal people, and they will never get sick again. 126 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 21 Session 4
Build a church Using blocks, interlocking bricks, or other objects, encourage preschoolers to build a church. SAY We go to church to worship God and hear the Bible taught. Jesus went to the synagogue to worship God and to read His Word. Jesus read God s Word to the people. Jesus said God s Word is about Him. LOW PREP blocks, interlocking bricks, or other building materials Make a big picture question scroll Print a copy of the big picture question poster with the answer for each preschooler. Cut each poster into three or four pieces. Place the pieces of each poster in a ziplock bag. Give each preschooler a sheet of construction paper and a ziplock bag of pieces. Invite him to put the puzzle together on his sheet of construction paper to reveal the big picture question and answer. Then glue the puzzle pieces in place. When glue has dried, show him how to roll up his paper like a scroll. Secure the scroll with a piece of yarn. SAY Jesus went to the synagogue to worship God. Jesus stood to read God s Word from a scroll. Jesus said God s Word is about Him. Big Picture Question Poster printable, 1 per child scissors (adult-use) ziplock bag construction paper glue stick yarn Examine Bibles Set out an assortment of Bibles for preschoolers to browse and examine. Show preschoolers the words Jesus read in Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:18-19. Point to Jesus name. SAY Every story in the Bible tells the one big story of God s plan to send Jesus. Jesus said God s Word is about Him. Bibles Transition to large group closing countdown video (optional) God Among Us 127
Large Group CLOSING SESSION TITLE: Jesus Rejected in Nazareth BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 4:14-30 MAIN POINT: Jesus said God s Word is about Him. KEY PASSAGE: John 14:6 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Who did Jesus say He is? Jesus said He is God s Son. Bible Bible Story Picture Poster Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Main Point Poster Big Picture Question Poster Key Passage Poster John 14:6 song That s What Jesus Did song Review Point to the giant timeline or big story circle as you review today s Bible story. Ask the following review questions: 1. Where did Jesus grow up? (Nazareth) 2. Where did God s people meet together to pray, worship, and learn about the Scriptures? (synagogue) 3. What did Jesus read to the people? (a scroll) 4. What did Jesus tell the people? (Jesus said God s Word is about Him.) 5. Whom did Jesus say He is? Jesus said He is God s Son. SAY Long before Jesus was born, Isaiah the prophet wrote about God s plan to send Jesus to earth. Jesus would bring good news and help people who were hurting. Jesus went to Nazareth, the town where He grew up. At the synagogue there, Jesus read God s words through Isaiah. Jesus said God s Word is about Him. Sing the key passage song or unit theme song. Pray Invite preschoolers to tell you any prayer requests they have. SAY God, thank You that we can come to church to pray, 128 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 21 Session 4
worship, and learn more about You. Thank You for sending Your Son to bring good news and help people who are hurting. We love You. Amen. Missions story If your preschool ministry is participating in a missions activity, discuss the activity, the reasons for it, and your group s progress. If you are not participating in a missions activity, talk about how Jesus read God s Word in the synagogue. Tell the preschoolers about how Jesus told the people that He was the One whom God promised to send. You may also show the Songhai Kingdoms video. SAY These missionaries are in Niger, West Africa. They are working with the Songhai people. Most of the Songhai people believe in gods that are not real. They have never heard about Jesus. The missionaries there are telling the Songhai about Jesus and how much He loves them. Let s pray for the Songhai people to not be afraid to follow Jesus and to trust Him with their lives. Let s also pray for the missionaries there as they share God s Word with the Songhai people. Songhai Kingdoms video Missions Prayer Cards printables, 1 per child Sign the main point Look up how to use sign language to sign the words Jesus, Bible, and Him online before the session. Demonstrate the signs to preschoolers. Invite the group to sign the words with you and join them together to sign the main point. Allow volunteers to take turns signing the main point for the group. Remind preschoolers that Jesus said God s Word is about Him. God Among Us 129